Villa Diodati
Food, Literature

Feast on a sumptuous three course Swiss-inspired meal; and be regaled by poetry and gothic stories, courtesy of Nigel Collins.

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In May 1816, Mary Godwin (later Shelley) travelled to Villa Diodati in Geneva with aesthete philosopher-poets Lord Byron and Percy Shelley; along with Claire Clairmont and Byron’s doctor John Polidori. It was a writer’s retreat of the highest order and yielded some of the most influential texts of the 19th century.

The group stayed up nightly, reading French and German ghost stories, until Bryon suggested they write their own. The surprise hit came from Polidori, who penned The Vampyre, effectively starting the vampire genre. However it was Godwin’s novel Frankenstein, written after a vivid ‘waking dream’ in mid June, that had arguably the biggest literary impact – it’s still regarded byThe Guardian as one of the best English language novels of all time.

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On arrival
Glühmost / mulled cider & white wine

First Course
Rispor / Leek risotto

Second Course
Suure Mocke / Sweet & sour braised beef
Vegetarian option / Gschnätzlets / Ragout with mushrooms in white wine sauce (available pre-ordered only)
Rösti
Sautéed Swiss chard

Third Course
Torta di Pane / chocolate bread pudding cake